The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-01-27
A SMALL LOCOMOTIVE X.
One Of the Most Perfect Working
Models Ever Made.
A Work Of Art Completed with Hand
Tools, tho Oaiy Machine Used Being
Northumberland Used In
lts C0nstraetiOn.
[Ecicntitic Americana

tEcicntihc Americana
Probably one Of the smallest and most
perfect working models Of q locomotive 10
on exhibition at the American Institute
Fair; il is only one thirty second the size
Of the ordinary engine, aud yet every de-
tail is accurately represented on this
standard. The engine was designed and
built by Mr.. F. Van Fleet of Wiliiamsport,
Pa, during such time as he could spare
from mercantile pursuits, and is rare
example Of fine mechanical skill. The build
ing occupied from three to four hours day
for two and a half years MIR. Van Fleets
only mechanical training was obtained
during two years spent at Cornell Univer-
sity; he never worked in a shop nor has
no had any practical experience with
machinery, SO that the mechanical per
fection Of his work as shown by his To-
connective indicates much genius. His
knowledge Of the locomotive was obtained
BY several years Of study of books aud
close examination Of engines Of various
patterns. The miniature locomotive is
not copied from any of the large ones, but
contains their best features, and consti-
tutes Mr.. Van Fleets ideal Of . loco
n0eive
All tho work was performed with hand
toois--taps, dies, files, etc.-the only mo.
chine used being an ordinary foot lathe.
All the valves and pistons were ground,
the latter SO accurately that although
thoy will slide Of their own weight they
form steam-tight fit with the cylinders
This accuracy of 1T was necessary, since
the smallest leak, where the pipes were SO
minute, would prevent the working OF the
engine. Some Of the pipes measure only
ooesizteenth of an inch in diameter out
side, and have . bore Of one thirty-second
of An inch These we're made of thin sheet
copper, which was drawn through dies
until the proper size was attained, when
the meeting edges were soldered.
The length of the engine and tender is 10
inches, tho former being u inches; the
height is 81 inches, and the width 81. The
cylinders are nine sixteenths inch in diam
eter by three-quarters inch stroke Steam,
enters the cylinders through ports one4
sixteenth by three-eights Of an inch and
makes its exit through ports three thirty.
seconds by three-eighths Of an inch These
ports are opened and closed by slide valves
one-quarter of an inch wide and three
eighths Of an inch long The driving
wheels arc 81 inches in diameter, the
truck-wheels threa-quarters, and the tank
wheels th irteen-sixteentha The main rods
are 2s4 inches long, and the side rods 2}s
inches long and one-eighth inch in width.
The boiler IS ! inches in diameter and 10
inches long, including the extended smoke
box; the fre-box is ~ inches long by ~
wide. One large fiue extends through the
boiler, it being necessary to make it thi)
way, since tho draught would have been
choked had the number and size of the
tubes found In the ordinery locomotive
been followed The boiler Is built of
brass Jagged with wood and jacketed with
Russia iron bound with German sill
yer straps The steam dome Is / inch in
diameter and ~ in height, and is pro-
vided with two safety valves, 'pop' and
lever, and with the usual whistle. The
boiler will safely bear a steam pressure of
13 pounds, although the steam gauge,
which is one quarter OF an inch in dame
ter, and whose face is illumina ted by gem
uine lamp placed directly in front Of it. will
only indicate up TO 100 pounds. The en-
CINE is equipped with Q perfect "Seliers
improved injector" II inches long by one
eighth Of an inch in diameter. 1t is also
fitted with a full Westinghouse air brake
system, both automatic and straight, on
drivers and tank. The air pump is 1H
inches long and three-sixteenths in diane
ter. The driver brake cylinders are three
eighths Of an inch long and one-quarter In
diameter. The steel links are 11-l6 inch
long, and have slot three thirty-seconds
of an inch wide; the link block one-eighth
by hree-sixteenths inch. All the nuts arc
hexngonal, and there are 100 threads to the
inch in the bolts The stack is one-half
inch in diameter BY two in height and
is provided with headlight fve-eighths
inch in diameter; one filing of this lamp
with oil will illuminate the track for one
ho0r. The signal lamps are one-half inch
long, and will burn twenty minutes The
engine is provided with q very perfect
steam reversing gear designed by Mr.. Van
Fleet The weight of the engine is about
fifteen pounds. 1t can be fired and run
the same as the ordinary locomotive, and
is fitted to burn either oil, coal OF coke.
fabrication is provided by oil cups one
thirty second inch bore.
In constructing this locomotive. no COM
plete drawings were made; the separate
parts were taken up, fitted in place and
finished, only such drawings of the details
being made as were found necessary. The
engine is beautifully finished, and the skill
Of the builder is shown by the perfection
and accuracy of each part, even those
which are partially hidden showing the
Same caro- and skill. The materials enter
ing into the construction Of the engine are
gold silver, German silver, brass, copper,
STEEL, iron end nickel.